Henry Van Vertloo Jr. is the son of Mr. Henry & Mrs. Lena Van Vertloo of rural Edwardsville, IL (their farm was located on Fagenroth Road, what is now the campus of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville). Henry joined the Army in September, 1942 and was stationed at Camp Wolters, Texas for basic training and was transferred to Ft. George Meade, Maryland in 1943 before being deployed to the Pacific theater. Sgt. Van Vertloo was re-assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment for the invasion of the Philippine Islands. For four days of intense jungle fighting, Sgt. Van Vertloo and his battalion held back Japanese tanks, artillery fire and fanatical assaults that resulted in the storied "Leyte's Lost Battalion" epic. Later, during an assault on the island of Luzon, Sgt. Henry Van Vertloo was killed in action when his jeep patrol was ambushed with machine-gun and mortar fire. Henry was brought home and interred in Sunset Hills Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, a brother Alfred and three sisters, Caroline, Mrs. Margaret Mullane and Mrs. Lena Kraft. Henry's sister, Margaret, was married to William McDaid, who was killed in action at Manila, February 28. Sergeant Henry Van Vertloo Jr. was 23 years, 2 months and 27 days of age.
<< Back to list page - Email this Page